[dramatic instrumental music plays]
[funky hip-hop beat layers in]
[Diana] Previously on Ghost...
[Tariq] Dru and Diana, they violated.
Right. Dru and Diana gotta go.
Hard to go on the run when your mom's footin' the bill, huh?
[Diana] Ma. No! No!
[gunshots ricochet]
Davis motherfuckin' MacLean.
Zion. Long time.
[Tariq] We got product. Now we just gotta figure out
- how we gon' move it. - [Brayden] We could throw
parties all over the tristate area.
You have to keep this shit on the low.
And you can definitely not tell anyone else in the band.
[Tariq] Right now, I'm worried about is making sure Noma
doesn't find out what the fuck we have going on.
I need to solidify one of my legitimate businesses.
You'll wanna talk to Wiley Adams.
His tentacles reach everywhere.
I just wanna finish what I started.
[Carter] This is my task force, Detective Tate.
And I'm gonna need you to fall in line.
You're gonna talk to Tariq St. Patrick...
You need to take that?
...and I'm gonna chat with Monet Tejada.
Is there anyplace you can think of that Cane and Monet won't?
[Salim] I know a safe place you can go.
You can't tell anybody where I went.
- I got you. - Thank you, Salim.
[gunshot]
Why, man? Fuck!
Robbin' the family stash spot?
What's making you so damn blind to your own children?
[grunting]
[Monet] Cane, wait. Don't do it.
I'm not trying to kill her. I'm trying to save her.
Tariq.
You can't do this to me.
- Why the fuck can't I? - Because she's pregnant.
What the fuck that got to do with me?
Because it's yours.
Tariq St. Patrick, drinking and smoking.
[Tariq] There's a lot going on, my boy.
[Brayden] Yeah, I guess so.
♪ ♪
- I'm Anya. - Nice to meet you, Anya.
[music fades]
[singer] * They say this is A big, rich town ♪
♪ I just come from The poorest part ♪
♪ Bright lights, city life I gotta make it ♪
♪ This is where it goes down ♪
♪ I just happen To come up hard ♪
♪ Legal or illegal, baby I gotta make it ♪
[50 Cent] * I never took A straight path nowhere ♪
♪ Life's full of twists And turns ♪
♪ Bumps and bruises I live, I learn ♪
♪ I'm from that city full of Yellow Cabs and skyscrapers ♪
♪ It's hard to get a start In these parts without paper ♪
♪ Homie, I grew up in hell A block away from heaven ♪
♪ That corner, every 15 minutes They movin' seven ♪
♪ Pure snow Bag it then watch it go ♪
♪ Occupational options Get some blow or some hos ♪
♪ Shoot the ball or the strap Learn to rap or to jack ♪
♪ Fuck it, man, in the meantime Go ahead and pump a pack ♪
♪ This my regal royal flow My James Bond bounce ♪
♪ That 007 That's 62 on my count ♪
♪ I'm a undercover liar I lie under the covers ♪
♪ Look a bitch in the eyes and Tell her, "Baby, I love you" ♪
♪ "You're my inspiration You're my motivation"*
♪ "You're the reason that I'm Moving with no hesitation" ♪
[singer] * They say this is A big, rich town ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ I just come from The poorest part ♪
♪ Bright lights, city life I gotta make it ♪
♪ This is where it goes down ♪
- ♪ Ohh, yeah ♪ - ♪ Yeah ♪
♪ I just happen To come up hard ♪
♪ Legal or illegal, baby I gotta make it ♪
[mellow hip-hop music plays]
[music fades]
[hum of traffic outside]
[distorted hip-hop music echoes]
[echoey] I'm Anya.
[music continues]
[Tariq] What you drinking?
We're doing shots.
Cheers.
♪ Hope somebody come for me ♪
♪ I ain't know That this was love ♪
[distorted speaking]
- [music continues] - [Anya] He wants another shot!
[Tariq] This is my last shot.
I'm not takin' no more.
Oh my God. Damn.
What's up? You wanna get outta here or what?
[chuckles] Sure.
♪ Put it like my daughter say ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, we breaked up ♪
♪ And nah, I don't see me Tryin' to make up ♪
♪ And nah, you gon' see me Switch my place up ♪
♪ Please believe me, it ain't Easy tryin' to raise her ♪
♪ Uh, fuckin' right Because I hate love ♪
- ♪ Wish it would go ♪ - ♪ Away ♪
- ♪ Go ♪ - ♪ Away ♪
- ♪ Stay away ♪ - ♪ Away ♪
- [Anya moans]
♪ Yeah, you show me All that fake love ♪
- ♪ Uh ♪ - [Anya pants]
♪ Fuckin' right And now I hate love ♪
- ♪ Wish it would go ♪ - ♪ Away ♪
- [music fades] - [zipper zips]
What, you leavin' already?
Mm-hm.
Can I at least get your number or somethin'?
[laughs] Look, you're cute and all, but...
let's not make this thing anything more than what it was.
[laughs] I had fun though.
Sheesh.
I mean, yeah, me too.
Throwin' another party if you wanna bring
your girls or anything.
I'll send you the addy.
Maybe we could do this again.
Maybe.
A'ight. Later.
[door closes]
[birds chittering outside]
[pills rattle]
It's a little early for that, isn't it?
Save your judgment. These are my meds.
I have sickle cell.
I had no idea.
These just help reduce the risk of going into crisis.
What's crisis?
You never heard of that?
I've never met anyone with sickle cell.
Right, you grew up around zero Black people.
Uh...
Crisis is when... my body loses oxygen
so it feels like everything's about to shut down.
My whole body feels like it's on fire and...
It-it's like... imagine teeny-tiny pieces of sharp glass
running through your veins.
It fucking hurts.
[somber music plays]
- Is that why you... - I'm not an addict, Brayden.
Sometimes I just need a little extra pick-me-up
to manage the other symptoms.
Depression and anxiety.
I'm sorry.
[sniffles]
It's okay. I don't need your pity.
And I sure as hell don't want to hear another person's opinion
on what I should do with my body ever again.
[sniffs loudly]
Don't tell anyone. Okay?
People start treating me like I'm made of glass
when they know.
I'm not gonna tell anyone.
But just so you know,
you don't have to hide anything from me, ever.
Okay?
Okay.
- [voicemail beeps] - Hey, Salim.
Um, you haven't called me back.
I was just calling to thank you.
For everything.
Call me.
Please.
I can't believe you made all this.
Well, a good meal is the one thing
that always seemed to bring this family back together.
[door closes]
[Cane] That's smelling good.
[tense music plays]
What the fuck are they doing here?
Listen, I called all y'all here for a family meeting.
We need to talk.
I ain't got shit to say to them.
Well, then you can be quiet and I'll do all the talking.
Everybody sit.
Cane.
Come on.
I let these motherfuckers live
out of respect for you.
So anything I do moving forward is gonna be on my terms.
Oh, on your own terms?
Yeah, on my own terms, nigga.
How's your face?
I'm not gon' be sittin' here
eatin' French toast with motherfuckers
who tried to kill you, Ma.
Look, a lot of shit has happened.
But we can fix it. I know we can.
We just need a reset, man.
We- we family, y'all.
And if I can forgive them, Cane, you can too.
I could.
But I won't.
I'm hearin' congrats are in order, Diana.
Shut up, Cane, a'ight? I don't wanna hear it.
Yeah, but you need to, Diana.
'Cause if I don't say it, nobody else will.
But if you have this baby, it's gonna be
the worst decision you ever make in your life.
I hope you hear me.
Out here playin' house with the one motherfucker
who fucked up this family!
[door opens]
[door slams closed]
[Monet] Well, he is right about one thing.
It's the outsiders who broke us.
You got Tariq interferin' in family business.
You got this Noma bitch sayin' who's in and who's out.
We need to cut everybody off and get back to family first.
Dru, you real quiet over there.
Yeah, I hear you, Ma.
I think I'm just gonna do my own thing away from the family.
Look, you can't just run away.
We gon' always be family.
Maybe that's all we should be.
[Monet] So you got a problem with the business?
Workin' together has always kept a roof over your head
and clothes on your back.
You know, I'm not blamin' the business, Ma.
- I'm blaming you. - Dru, just stop.
- Me? - No, no, no, no, no. Yes, you.
And until you're able to admit that, I am out too.
[somber music plays]
[door opens]
- Ma, maybe they're right. - [door slams closed]
Tellin' us to go back to old times
after tryin' to kill each other?
That ain't gon' work.
- Then what the hell will? - [Diana] I don't know.
We might be too far gone for that.
And Ma, what kind of mother would I be
bringing a baby into this mess?
Look, Diana. After last night,
I told myself I was gonna let you make your own decisions.
So I'm not gonna tell you what to do.
But this baby can be a fresh start.
A chance for us to do family the right way.
Listen, sweetie, I promise.
I'm gonna do everything in my fuckin' power
to get this family on the right track.
For your baby.
For my grandbaby.
You hear me?
I do.
But, Ma, I just don't know if you have
that kind of power right now.
- [dramatic music plays] - [Diana departs]
[music fades]
[chatter]
[engines rev in video game]
[Brayden] Yes, sir. Coming through.
- [tires screech] - [electronic jingle plays]
Fuck this slow-ass car, bro.
- Bro! - [exhales forcefully]
What are you doing? We should be celebrating
that we got the business up and running.
Not throwing controllers.
My brand-new, expensive-ass controller, by the way.
- I'm just saying. - Yeah, I'm sorry
about your brand-new, expensive controller, B.
I just... There's a lot on my mind right now, bro.
That's it.
You wanna talk about it?
I mean, I did you see you leave that party
with the fire-ass girl last night.
That was Anya.
- Anya? Noma's daughter, Anya? - Yeah.
Bro, I thought she looked familiar.
What the fuck are you thinking?
Listen, that's the least of our fuckin' problems, all right, B?
Diana is pregnant, bro. Diana is pregnant.
And it's mine!
- What?! - Yeah.
When were you fucking Diana?
Last semester.
All right, it was after Effie. It was one time, bro.
I don't even fuckin' understand how this is possible.
[sighs]
I don't know, bro. Like...
all of this shit is happenin' to me at once
and I have no control over anything.
I don't have control over one thing in my life right now.
But I don't know what my next move is, man.
Okay, well, your next move
should probably be talking to Diana.
And leave Anya the fuck alone.
We killed it last night.
We don't need Noma coming around here, sniffin' shit out.
Who knows what the fuck will happen?
All right, so, speak to Diana,
- focus on building the business. - Yes.
I got a second truce in place with the Tejadas anyway,
so I guess revenge can wait.
- Right? - Yeah, Anya can too.
Yeah. Word.
[horns honking on street]
Mom! What are you doing here?
I was informed that you evaded security again last night.
I don't think you understand
how much danger you're putting yourself in.
Okay, can we, like, cut the dramatics for once?
Whoever wanted to hurt Dad
is probably still in Italy.
I'm fine.
- Listen to me, Anya-- - [item clatters on floor]
Shit.
Where the hell'd you get this?
[scoffs]
Mom, you sent me to prep school my entire life.
You really think I've never done coke? Be for real.
The hundreds of thousands I spend on your school
is for your education, not so you can get high.
- This shit ruins people's lives. - Oh my God. Relax.
It's not like I'm on the verge of rehab.
It's just for fun.
Got it at some underground show last night at Stansfield.
I didn't even use it.
[ominous music plays]
Starin' won't make it go away.
I mean, I can't... I can't help it, D.
I'm still in shock.
You're not the only one.
You tried...
[loud chatter nearby]
You tried to shoot me last night.
You nearly got my mother killed.
Look, that wasn't what I was trying to do.
You gave her WITSEC location
to a motherfucker that was huntin' her down.
What the fuck did you think was gonna happen?
I was blinded by everything with Monet. A'ight?
I'm sorry. And I was selfish.
Yeah, that... that sorry shit is not gonna cut it, all right?
That's just not enough.
Okay, well, you don't have to forgive me
and I don't have to forgive you either.
But that won't change the f...
- [loud chatter] - [Diana sighs angrily]
[chatter quiets]
That don't change the fact that I am pregnant.
Let me ask you something, D.
What's making you so certain that that's my baby?
You serious?
I mean, you been fuckin' Salim all last semester
so I'd be crazy to not ask that question.
I always used condoms with Salim.
- Me and you didn't. - Yeah, because condoms
always work every fuckin' time, right?
Okay, I don't know what you tryin' to say,
but I'm not tryin' to pin no baby on you, Tariq.
You ain't my first choice, trust me.
[Tariq laughs]
So what you gonna do then? Hm?
I don't know yet.
But I already lost my father and Zeke to the game
so if I do keep this baby,
the people in his or her life need to be clean.
I can't have my baby anywhere near the life we had growin' up.
[somber music plays]
I'll let you know what I decide.
[chatter resumes]
[music fades]
It's pretty impressive that Monet Tejada's been able
to fly underneath the radar for this long.
No charges and zero arrests.
I think she's callin' the shots.
Don't sleep on Tariq.
I'm not sleepin' on anyone.
All these motherfuckers guilty of somethin'.
You get anything from your meeting with him?
[Kamaal] Yeah. When I told him there was a witness
who could place him at Monet's shooting,
he seemed less afraid that I knew
and more worried about what she knew.
He's afraid of her. She's the boss.
When I told Monet, she acted like she already knew.
She was clearly covering.
She reached out to Tariq when we were together
and he was shook.
So this is working.
Turning them against each other.
We still need one of 'em to give up their supplier.
Which one is more likely to?
With the right pressure point...
Both.
[Kamaal] I'm not sure Tariq's ready yet
but I could take another crack at him.
[clears throat] I'll handle it.
[Kamaal] No disrespect to you, but...
my shared history with the St. Patricks gives me an edge.
Or maybe that's the exact reason you can't get him to fold.
Or maybe you're not really lookin' for them to fold at all.
- What the fuck are you implying? - Didn't your fuckin' brother
- get you this job? - [Kamaal laughs sardonically]
[Kamaal] So that's what your fuckin' problem with me is.
Okay. Calm down, everybody. Please.
Detective Tate, keep your eyes on Tariq.
I'll keep mine on Monet.
- [snickers] - One of them will lead us
to the plug and we'll snap the cuffs on all of them.
We're done here.
Why would you sell my daughter drugs?
- Hm? - Your daughter?
I wouldn't. I didn't.
Anya told me that she went to some sort of concert
at Stansfield last night.
She came home with this.
[dramatic music plays]
That's your territory, isn't it?
Yeah, but this isn't mine.
I didn't have people selling at a Stansfield concert last night.
Then whose is it?
[ominous musical sting]
I see.
I'll handle this...
personally.
♪ ♪
This is the first time this has ever happened
in the history of MacLean and Associates.
Look, all I'm asking is that you bear with me
while we go through this rough patch.
I love working here, Davis, but missing payroll?
I've got a kid and too many bills.
Look, I understand that totally. You know how...
Not right now, fellas.
Not-- Now's not the time.
I mean, by the looks of it, we're right on time.
[Davis sighs]
Your cut, Mr. MacLean.
Fuckin' right that's my cut.
And your timin' couldn't be better.
[soft upbeat music plays in gallery]
I cried the first time I saw it.
Yeah.
[Dru sighs]
I hope my work can make people
feel like that someday.
You're an artist?
Aspiring.
No. Either you are or you aren't.
I've been tryin' to...
figure that out lately.
[woman] You definitely have a good eye
and an interesting point of view.
[Dru] Hm.
I can tell you're having a bit of an identity crisis though.
Yeah. [laughs]
You have no idea.
We showcase pieces from emerging, undiscovered artists
twice a year.
If you're an artist with solid, elevated pieces,
I'll consider putting your work up.
♪ ♪
- [Dru sighs] - [music ends]
[Zion] I didn't expect you back for a re-up so soon.
Guess Ghost's son got more of his father in him
than I thought.
Listen, I didn't know Ghost.
But I know Tariq.
You can trust that we'll always come through.
Yeah.
Trust, trust, trust, trust, trust.
You know, it's funny you mention trust.
It's my number one priority
for the people I fuck with.
Okay.
Ever since Davis introduced you two,
I feel like motherfuckers have been keepin' shit from me.
[dramatic music plays]
I don't know what the fuck you're talking about.
We're not hiding shit.
See, everybody knew the Russians lost they product.
Oh, it was everywhere.
A vacuum I expected to fill.
And yet...
I ain't heard shit from 'em.
But somehow, they back in business.
Who's supplying them?
[laughs] You know somethin'.
Yeah, I see it.
I see it.
Like I said before,
I don't work with people I can't trust.
And you need me to trust you...
to keep your life.
Spit it out, motherfucker.
You didn't hear this shit from me.
- Can I trust that? - Of course.
Shit go both ways.
I heard their supplier's some British bitch, Noma.
But we're not workin' wit' her.
Okay? No shady shit, no backdoor deals.
♪ ♪
[choking, coughing]
I believe you.
[music fades]
See you soon, Tiny Tommy.
[laughs]
♪ Uh, oh, goddamn ♪
♪ She make it clap Wit' no hands ♪
♪ Look, shawty Shakin' that shit ♪
♪ I like that little bitch Might take her to Japan ♪
[upbeat hip-hop song continues indistinctly at party]
[Tariq] Here you go.
♪ ♪
[tense, ominous music layers over hip-hop music]
Thought I wouldn't find out about your little ruse?
Huh?
You underestimated me,
as I overestimated you.
See, I really thought you were a man of your word, Tariq.
Disappointing, to say the least.
It's just a party, that's it.
You violated our agreement, Tariq.
I told you. I want it to be as if you didn't exist.
Now what part of that didn't you understand?
I didn't do shit. It's just a party, like I said.
Yeah, didn't do shit?
- Belongs to you, right? - That ain't mine.
No? Ain't yours?
He's lying.
I can always tell when this nigga's lying.
It's a shame we can't at least have a moment of honesty
before I kill you.
Come on.
♪ ♪
- Go on. - Do I have to drag yo' ass out?
[music intensifies, then falls off abruptly]
Nah.
[hip-hop music resumes]
Mom? What the fuck are you doing here?
My love. I was looking for you.
How did you even know I would be here?
Did you put a tracker in my phone again?
Wait, Anya, this... this is your mom?
[sighs] Yes.
Sorry, Tariq. I don't even know how she found out about this.
Oh, no, no. I'm not trippin'.
I would love for you to stay and party with us
but you know, I gotta put a cap on the age thing.
Shit gets weird. You know how it goes.
But I'm sure there's some alum parties
that you can tap into around campus.
- Anya, let's go. - No. Tell me why--
I'll explain in the car. Let's go.
♪ ♪
I'll see you soon.
Sure will.
[music mutes, continues]
That little shit doesn't know when enough is enough.
I can't wait to see his body turn cold.
I'll handle it. Just say the word.
[Noma sighs] Look...
Our worlds are a little too close right now, yeah?
Anya can't know about my business.
I have to choose my next move very carefully.
♪ ♪
[dramatic hip-hop music plays at party]
- Hey, yo, where's Brayden? - What?
- Where's Brayden at? - He's backstage.
♪ I put others before me ♪
♪ Lovin' them niggas I knew wasn't for me ♪
- Yo. - [sniffs]
B, are you fucking kidding me right now?
Bro, I was just headed out there.
Cane and Noma just left.
- Wait, what? - Yes, Cane and Noma was here.
They know exactly what the fuck we got going on
and now Noma wants us dead.
All right. Well, let's go figure it out.
I'ma figure this shit out like I always do.
I'll actually just fuckin' talk to you later, bro.
No, don't stop for me. I already know everything.
Floor is yours.
What the fuck is she talkin' about?
Bro, she figured it out on her own, okay?
She's not gonna say shit.
Are you fucking losing your mind, bro?
This shit really got you buggin' out.
As soon as y'all break up,
she's gonna run her fuckin' mouth.
- You think I'm a snitch? - I think you're a addict
and I can't fuckin' trust you. Honestly.
Bro, don't call her that.
Look what the fuck she got you doin'.
Look at this shit.
Bro, time and time again, you've proved
that you're just not fuckin' built for this.
I'm so fuckin' sick and tired of hearin' that.
Oh, you think I'm not sick and fuckin' tired of telling you?
Do you think about anybody else but yourself
for once in your fucking life?
Okay? I was outta this shit
and I doubled back to save your ass
and I lost my fuckin' family over it.
My life is falling apart.
And I can't even talk about it
because it never trumps the latest Tariq crisis.
Everything going on in your life
is always more fucking important than mine.
Maybe this... maybe this right here is my fucking outlet.
This is your fuckin' outlet, nigga?
Learn how to take this shit on the chin
like I do every day!
I can't 'cause I'm not you!
You're right.
You're not me.
Tariq!
Fuck!
[siren wailing in distance]
I got your text. What's up?
I hear you're lookin' for your own place.
Yeah, so?
You know you can still stay in the house, Dru.
That room's gonna forever be yours.
- No, I'm good. - Dru, listen, listen.
I just wanna make things right between us.
I meant what I said. Family first is my priority.
You are a sick individual. You know that?
Listen, you watch what comes outta your mouth next, boy.
- I'm still your mother. - You have the audacity
to use Papi's words like you didn't fuckin' kill him.
It doesn't even faze you.
"Family first" don't mean shit no more!
It's just a phrase you use
to control and manipulate us.
Family's just business to you.
Everything I've done with this business was for this family!
What family, Monet?
You gave Tariq
and Cane the greenlight to kill me and Diana.
You had a gun in your child's face
yesterday.
And it wasn't the first time.
You destroyed our family.
Don't...
And your ass is still standing here breathing
because of me.
So you might want to listen.
Yeah, a'ight.
Shit.
You're right. You're right. You're right.
You're right, Dru.
I wanna say that every choice I made was for you kids,
but I put the business first.
And I can admit that now.
And I'm sorry.
[gentle, dramatic music plays]
I never heard you say that shit before, so...
Finally.
Maybe most mothers
don't do things the way I do 'em.
And most of them would never find themselves in my position.
But the one thing in this world
that means the most to me,
that means everything to me, is you kids.
I wanna bring the family back together.
But in order to do that,
I'ma have to bring the business back.
But this time, the business will serve the family, Dru.
Not the other way around. I promise you.
♪ ♪
But we gonna need some product.
I know where we can get some.
- Okay, so- so you're in? - No.
No. I am one and done.
I'ma need a cut.
Just so I can get myself set up
so I can work on my art.
I don't want shit else to do with this business, Monet.
But if you... if you really meant what you said...
about being a real family...
I'm in on that.
Understood.
So tell me how.
[sighs]
We gon' need soldiers.
[sings softly and indistinctly]
[continues singing]
Fuckin' Tariq won't answer any of my fuckin' calls.
He'll come around. Come here.
[sniffles]
Look, I'm sorry about what he said.
He was just pissed. He's not usually a dick.
You don't have to apologize for him.
I thought he was a dick way before today.
And from what it sounded like,
he really needs to take a look in the mirror.
He has no room to judge me.
For sure.
I knew you'd agree.
What's that supposed to mean?
I gave him a little... surprise.
You know that outlet he said he didn't have?
Man, I remember the epiphany I had when I did acid.
God. It was like I was really seeing myself
- for the first time. - Okay.
What are you talking about?
I put a couple drops of acid in Tariq's water bottle.
What-- A-are you fucking kidding me?
Tariq barely even smokes. This could really fuck him up!
Yeah, maybe that's his problem. I don't know a single person
who needs a jay more than Tariq.
- When did you do this? - Earlier, at the candy store.
It-it was acid, not fentanyl.
No, it's not okay!
- Are you fucking kidding me? - Brayden!
Riq. Riq!
- [shrill note slices] - You okay, bro?
[distorted] Bro, are you okay? [laughs]
[gentle, eerie music plays]
Riq?
- Riq. - Don't fuckin' touch me.
Stay calm, bro. I got you.
Daddy!
[speaks indistinctly, grunts]
- What's up? How's your day? - Good.
Did you tell her?
[future son] Yes.
[Cane, echoing and distant] Been wanting to do this
for a long time.
- [gunshot] - [tense music plays]
[Diana, echoing and distorted] You lied! You lied!
You promised me that you'd get out!
[echoing] You promised me, Tariq.
[shrill, echoing] You promised me!
You promised me that you'd get out.
You promised! You promised!
You promised, Tariq! You promised me!
[gunshot]
[slow, somber rendition of theme music plays]
♪ They say It's a big rich town ♪
♪ I just come from The poorest part ♪
- ♪ Bright lights, city life ♪ - What are you doing here, son?
[future son] I'm in the way of your future, right?
You do this shit, you can never go back.
♪ I just happen To come up hard ♪
[Tariq's voice] You can't kill me.
- [gun clicks] - Nothing can.
Not when you're at the top of the game.
Who the fuck are you?
I'm everything you could be once you stop doubting yourself.
♪ It's a big, rich town ♪
Stop pretending that people's rules and expectations
apply to your life.
And be the man that your father was always afraid to be.
♪ Bright lights, city life I gotta make it ♪
♪ This is where it goes down ♪
You knew it would always come to this.
[echoing gunshot]
- Yo. - [Tariq sighs]
Yo, what the fuck?
What the fuck happened?
I don't know. I came in here and you were losing it.
I think someone might have dosed you.
Dosed me?
What the fuck you mean, dosed me?
I don't know. It's just been happening all over campus.
Some fucked-up prank.
[sighs]
[gentle organ music plays]
[sighs]
Who are you going to light a candle for?
Um...
[inhales sharply]
My father,
my brother, and...
my friend.
- Hm. - You?
My husband.
I come here every day.
I think he sees the light
and knows that even though he's moved on to the next life
he's still in my heart.
Death is not the end of love, you know?
[inhales tremulously]
My father taught me...
he taught me that the soul lives on.
It does.
[organ music ends]
[speaking Spanish]
I'm sorry, how do... how do you kn...
how do you know that? I'm not showing.
You are showing.
Here.
[dramatic, somber music plays]
- [music fades] - [siren wailing]
- [man] You sure about this? - [Dru] Yeah.
As long as we hit 'em right after the drop happens.
We got a small window so we need to be precise.
[tense music plays]
It's still risky as shit.
Look, that's Dru's route when he used to work for Noma.
He knows what he's talkin' about.
Now, the shipment should have enough product for us to move,
get paid,
and then you can proposition a new connect
for a bigger supply.
And if we do this shit right,
Noma will never know it was us.
He better be right about this shit.
I ain't got no time to waste.
Look, you motherfuckers said
you wanted to be down with the Tejadas.
I'm giving you a chance to prove yourself.
Now, you in or you out?
I ain't askin' again.
♪ ♪
A'ight.
I'm down too.
A'ight, tomorrow night.
Don't be late.
Everything has a cost, Mr. Adams.
- Everything. - Yes. Yeah. [laughs]
But this is the United States government we're talking about.
My former statement still stands.
Look, at this level,
where the Is and Ts have to,
you know, appear to be crossed,
it's just a risk that most people
are not gonna be willing to take,
especially with someone whose...
whose citizenship is in limbo.
It puts a magnifying glass on your bid.
Well, like I said, you know, it's in progress, so.
- Hi. - Um, ma'am?
A mistake has been made.
This table's already reserved for the evening.
Your hostess sat us here
and I'm in the middle of a business dinner, so.
I see that, and...
I can't apologize enough for the inconvenience.
I have an amazing table over by the window
that I think you'll love.
We're not going anywhere.
There are other available tables.
The guest has an affinity for this table.
[light jazz music plays in restaurant]
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
I keep a standing reservation
at this table.
It's like I own it.
So basically you're squattin' on my property.
The mistake is the restaurant's, not ours. Okay?
It's just a table, luv.
There's a beautiful view of the city by the window.
It's just that I can close my eyes and picture...
- Oh God. [clears throat] - ...every inch of this city.
Every block.
Every bodega.
This is my home.
So when people like yourself,
you know, they come in and they try to colonize
territory that don't belong to them,
sayin' it's just a table,
I feel the need to remind 'em of who was here first.
[tense, dramatic music plays]
And unfortunately for you, Noma,
I done peed on every tree in Manhattan.
Anyone with a knob can do that.
I'm sorry, do you... do you know each other?
No. No, we don't.
I'm Zion.
[Noma clears her throat]
Why don't you go enjoy the view of my city
while you can.
Should be able to see the Queensboro Bridge
from over there.
[tense music fades]
[jazz music in restaurant resumes]
[hum of traffic on streets]
[Cane] I got your text. You good?
Who the fuck is Zion?
Mid-level dealer from around the way.
Why? What's up?
Who have you been talking to about me? Huh?
I've done a damn good job of insulating myself.
No bottom of the barrel, drug-dealing scum
should be speaking my name in public.
Well, I ain't say shit.
- What's going on? - Zion.
Do you know him?
I do.
He's a client. Why?
- Ah, there it is. - Fuck outta here.
Well, he humiliated me in front of Wiley.
Yeah. He put my business at stake.
He's trying to run me out of New York.
Well, he can't do that. I'll handle it.
No, no, no. Let me handle this one, Cane.
All right? I have a way with words and I know both players.
Well, that sounds nice or whatever,
but don't underestimate my family name
in these streets, all right?
Especially to somebody like Zion.
Duly noted.
But Zion's unpredictable and dangerous.
Well, so am I.
Look, just trust me.
No Davis, no security.
Just me and you.
- Fine. - Really?
You heard her.
Brilliant. [sighs]
I'll handle Wiley Adams.
Make sure we're good on the legit front.
[dramatic hip-hop music plays]
[crowd cheering, whooping]
This is where Zion used to fight when he was comin' up.
- Now he runs it. - Yeah?
Are you sure it's safe for just the two of us?
Yeah, this is agreed upon neutral territory.
It's safer approaching here than anywhere else.
Big Zo.
You ain't here to start no shit, right?
Of course not.
I know you ain't strapped.
Nigga, I know the fuckin' rules.
♪ ♪
[crowd commotion]
[crowd cheering, shouting]
[Noma] Fuckin' hell.
You brought me in here without protection?
[Cane] No weapons. Even Zion ain't strapped.
[Zion] Yo. Long time, no see.
What up, boy?
My condolences about Lorenzo.
Heard what happened down at the funeral.
That's not the sendoff an OG deserves at all.
I appreciate that. I know you respected him.
Him, Monet, your whole family.
You sure about that?
I hear you been violatin'.
Oh, you heard that from your new little friend?
- Well, nigga, I ain't know-- - Well, now you know.
All right? So questioning her credentials is questioning mine.
She belongs wherever I do.
- Have a good one. - Hey.
Cane.
I ain't know you got a new bitch.
Watch your tongue
or I'll cut it out for you.
See, I don't need a man to speak for me.
You one of them feminist bitches, huh?
Like I told you before, you in my city, sweetheart.
Yeah?
Show some motherfuckin' respect.
Cane. You know, I heard the Tejadas was movin'
real desperate after Lorenzo,
but damn, nigga, this shit's just sad. Come on now, bro.
Don't fuckin' touch me.
What you think you doin', little nigga?
How 'bout we take this in the ring?
- You got the balls for that? - Yeah, big ones.
- [laughs] - [laughs] Yeah.
A'ight, a'ight.
Hey, this shit gon' be fun, nigga.
[tense, ominous music plays]
Thought you said he was a trained fighter.
And what you think I am?
I'm a fuckin' natural.
[crowd cheering and jeering]
Oh, shit!
Zion's blessin' us in the ring for the first time in years!
[cheering]
It's about to get realer than real
in this motherfucker tonight!
Cane. You about to go up against a Fourth Circle OG.
You might wanna do a push-up or something.
I don't need no warm-up.
You hear that? Fuck a warm-up!
He say fuck a jumping jack.
Queens, we in here!
[cheering]
Let's make it happen.
[metal fence rattling]
[bell dings]
♪ We came to boom We came to buss ♪
♪ Better make room For the bum-rush ♪
♪ Better make room... ♪
Gettin' tired already, OG?
["We Came to Boom" continues]
It's a graveyard of niggas I knocked out in this ring.
You ready to join?
♪ Better make room For the bum-rush ♪
♪ I'ma hit 'em with everything That I got ♪
♪ I'ma blow the spot ♪
♪ THOR's made for holy wars I spray the block ♪
♪ Scrap metal and iron I just keep on firin' ♪
♪ I get the job done And I ain't retirin' ♪
♪ I ups the casualties fount My body count ♪
♪ Victims are way too many... ♪
Mannie, get this nigga a stretcher.
[crowd roaring]
♪ Some, I broke they neck Some got shot down ♪
♪ Some evaporated ♪
♪ Some got fathered in And assassinated... ♪
Yo, yo, yo, yo. Yo. Brass knuckles?
Yo, we don't do that shit in here.
Flag on the fucking play, man.
- For real. - Fuck you.
Yo, the winner. My brother, Cane Tejada!
[cheering and jeering]
♪ Better make room For the bum-rush ♪
- That was so... carnal. - [music fades]
I'm impressed.
Don't act so surprised.
Yeah, well, we may have won tonight, but...
we hurt his pride.
He isn't gonna let that go.
Gonna have to be prepared for his retaliation.
Nah, I hear you.
But now he knows you can't be fucked with. All right?
Zion talks a lot of shit
but at the end of the day, this is my city.
So you good when you wit' me.
Like I told you, you don't need no security.
All you need is me.
[dramatic music plays]
We gotta find a new way to move product
- since Noma blew up our shit. - Fuck that shit, bro.
We're gonna keep throwing parties like we been doing.
- What you mean? - Bro, did you not just hear me?
- Noma? - Fuck Noma, nigga.
I had to tell Zion about her.
- You did what? - He was gonna fuckin' kill me.
- I had no choice. - Come the fuck on, B.
- He's not gonna say shit. - Whatever, bro.
[sighs] Listen, B, I can't be a fuckin' pawn anymore.
From that Noma shit to whatever the fuck happened earlier,
I need to get back in the driver's seat.
Bro, I'm 'bout to be a father.
If I'm gonna be a father, I gotta do this shit right.
I gotta control every fucking piece.
That's the only way I can protect me and my family.
You know, my dad did a lot of dumb shit
that I never agreed with but...
I got a lot of him in me.
Never heard you say that shit before.
Never wanted to fucking admit it.
But you know, I realized to get what the fuck I want
I got to use all of me.
The good parts of him, the bad parts of him.
And the good parts and the bad parts of me.
I gotta put it all to use to get what I want.
What do you want?
Revenge?
That and a lot more.
[dramatic music plays]
I wanted blood, B.
I wanted fuckin' blood.
But in order to get that, I need to insulate myself,
my family, and my kid from all the consequences.
I gotta become the apex predator.
I like the sound of that. But how do we do it?
We start by getting leverage.
- [tapping on phone keypad] - [message sent notification]
[cell phone vibrates]
- [message sent notification] - [cell phone vibrates]
[incoming message notification]
[music fades]
[inhales sharply, sighs]
- Denise. - [dramatic music resumes]
Where'd I put that lip balm?
Ah.
Found it.
♪ ♪
So I, uh...
shouldn't be home too late tonight.
You'll wait up for me, yeah?
[music crescendos, ends]
- [gulls calling] - [ship's horn blowing]
Sorry I'm late.
Everything okay? You good?
I've had some time to think.
Some people told me this baby could be a fresh start
and some straight up told me to get rid of it.
But honestly, the only thing that made sense
was to listen to how I feel.
To think about my life and...
how much this decision could change it.
And?
I'm keepin' it.
Look, it's my decision to make, Tariq.
So if you don't wanna be involved, I get it, it's okay--
That's not the case at all.
You know, I actually...
had some time to think about this myself too.
I'm ready.
I'm ready to do this, D.
[tender, somber music plays]
Well, I have my first ultrasound tomorrow.
You wanna come?
Yeah.
Davis.
To what do I owe the pleasure?
Um... I came to update you.
I smoothed everything over with Wiley Adams.
Mm-hm.
But he couldn't be talked out of thinking
you and Zion were connected.
The good news...
Your bid for the jet parts contract isn't in jeopardy.
Yeah. He's just dirty enough.
Which is perfect for us.
Thank you.
I'm too close for any setbacks.
Exactly.
I'm here to prevent that.
You know, Davis...
you just might be as good as they say you are.
Trust me, I'm better.
Would you like to join me for a glass?
Love to.
["Energy" by J. L'Oreal playing]
♪ Present tense ♪
♪ Ain't no love And you hella bent ♪
♪ Many men ♪
♪ Many, many, many... ♪
Here's to...
possibilities.
Foreseen and unforeseen.
Unforeseen?
♪ But I know you're here For a reason ♪
♪ Here to collect Your royalties ♪
♪ Regrets, full of regrets ♪
♪ Full of regrets Full of grief ♪
♪ Upsets, hella upsets I was obsessively ♪
♪ Givin' you all of my energy ♪
[ominous music plays]
- [siren wailing in distance] - [door opens]
♪ ♪
[engine starts]
[gunfire]
[grunting]
[rapid gunfire]
- [tires squealing] - [metal crunching]
[glass shattering]
NYPD! Surrender your weapons!
You heard her! Put the fuckin' weapons down!
- Put 'em down now! - [grunting]
Down! Put your fuckin' weapons on the motherfuckin' ground!
- Let's go! - Hands on the truck.
- Put your hands on the truck! - Hands on the van!
- [Monet] Easy, mother... - On the fuckin' van, let's go!
- Hands on the fuckin' van. - [Dru] Get the fuck off me!
[Carter] We got phones?
Turn around.
♪ ♪
Monet.
How the fuck are you?
[Dru] You know him?
Well, we more in that getting to know each other stage.
Right, Red?
Fuck all these mind games, nigga.
You gonna take us to jail or not?
No, I'm not gonna take you to jail.
'Cause the moment you get out, you just gonna go back
to doing what it is you fuckin' do.
So what the fuck do you want then?
I'm giving you the opportunity to remain free.
If you follow my rules.
So what, you want us to stop sellin' drugs?
Ideally.
But this ain't a fuckin' ideal world. You feel me?
Drug dealers are like fuckin' cockroaches.
Impossible to eradicate. Believe me, I've tried.
Then I realized there's always gonna be a demand,
so there's always gonna be supply.
That's just simple economics.
[Carter] Exactly.
So I got some simple rules.
Listen carefully.
Civilians should never be hurt in the process.
You can kill all the criminals you want.
But you spill one drop of innocent blood...
and we kill you.
You tryin' to control all the drug dealers in the city.
Try?
Nah, son. I'm winnin'.
My task force decides who gets to operate in this city.
You stay in line, keep innocents out of harm's way...
you can continue.
But you go rogue, you will go to prison
or we kill you.
[man] Why you lookin' at me, man?
You take her, man. She's the boss.
You motherfucker. I knew you was a bitch.
Oh. We got a real hero.
[whispers] Is that that motherfucker that killed Darien?
I put it together.
I recognize you.
You killed Darien James two years ago.
He was 18 years old.
That wasn't me.
- That's definitely him. - Please, man.
Please, let me go back to my family.
Shot that kid on the subway.
He was days away from going to Binghamton.
His father broke down on that platform in my arms.
We looked for you for months.
- Months! - [breathes heavily]
I never forget a fuckin' face.
It was you.
[music intensifies slowly]
Well, he didn't get to go home to his family, so...
why should you?
- [grunts] - [gunshot]
- [Dru] What the fuck? - All right, all right.
Come on. Get over here.
Don't touch my kid.
I meant what I fuckin' said.
You harm an innocent and you're fuckin' done.
So what the fuck, we work for you now?
Look at it this way.
I'm giving you the opportunity to work with me.
You can keep the product you stole tonight.
From what I know about you, you're quick, well-connected.
So I'll be expecting my cut soon.
Your cut? The fuck you mean?
This is New York City. I gotta pay my people.
It's a reasonable 35 percent.
Think of it as giving back to the community.
And what's keepin' us from reportin' you?
Oh, shit.
We got a real smart one, boss.
You're looking at New York City's favorite,
most decorated officer.
People tend to believe him over scum like you.
Oh, shut up, bitch.
So now that we have an understanding,
you're free to go.
As far as NYPD is concerned, you was never here.
Take your shit and clear the fuck out.
- Monet, you feel that? Huh? - Feel what?
It's the start of something, uh...
special, hm?
Get the fuck outta here.
♪ ♪
[music fades]
[technician] It's still very early.
You see that little bean right there?
That's your baby. [chuckles]
I can snap a still of it and print it out for you two.
- Here you go. - Thank you.
And I will just go get it and give you two a moment.
It's still so small.
I know.
Crazy 'cause... one day, he'll be as big as you.
[somber music plays]
Yeah.
So you really think it's a boy, huh?
Yeah, I do.
And...
I think I wanna name him Lorenzo.
Look, Tariq.
I've been trying to get in contact with Salim
and I haven't heard back from him.
Have you?
Mm-mm.
Don't lie.
Okay? 'Cause I know something happened to him.
You found me at his house a couple days ago
then all of a sudden he goes missing? That don't make sense.
[Tariq sighs]
All right, look, D.
I pulled up on the nigga,
I asked him where you were and he folded.
Next thing you know, he's gone.
I mean, anything could have fuckin' happened to the nigga.
Ain't got nothin' to do with me though.
Well, I'm not gonna be like Monet.
So that means I can't have this baby around the life,
even if that means I'm raising it by myself.
Listen, D.
My dad tried his hardest to keep me away from this shit,
now look how I turned out.
I understand that he was trying to protect us
by gettin' outta the game
but... he wasn't really outta the game, D.
He had one foot in, one foot out.
His past, his enemies.
Everything was chasing right behind him his whole life.
Okay? That was his way.
But I ain't doin' it like that.
I don't need to be outta this shit to protect y'all.
I need to be on top.
Okay?
That's how I protect you two.
That don't work for me.
[somber rendition of theme music plays]
Bye, Tariq.
♪ I gotta make it ♪
♪ Oh, I hope I make it ♪
♪ Mm ♪
["Let Me" by Brian McKnight Jr. plays]
♪ Let me grow ♪
♪ Let me ♪
♪ Let me grow ♪
♪ Let me ♪
♪ Let me grow ♪
♪ Let me ♪
♪ Forget you ♪
♪ Don't let me down ♪
♪ Don't turn around ♪
♪ No ♪
♪ Don't let me down ♪
♪ Easy ♪
♪ Yeah ♪